26 February 2024 , 09:14
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Jude Bellingham was quick to praise Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk after the Dutchman guided the Reds to Carabao Cup glory on Sunday.
After 118 minutes of goalless action, it was Van Dijk who stepped up and bagged a last-gasp winner with a glancing header and crushed Chelsea's hopes in the process. The goal will of course grab the headlines, but it was a masterful performance from the Liverpool captain throughout, with the defender near faultless across two hours of intense football.
Jurgen Klopp's side had a plethora of injuries to contend with, as the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai all missed out and watched on from the sidelines. Van Dijk was the most senior figure in the starting line-up and marshalled his defence to a vital clean sheet.
After the game, the 32-year-old took to Instagram to express his delight at winning the first piece of silverware on offer this season. Van Dijk uploaded a snap of him holding both the Carabao Cup trophy and what looked like a man of the match award, alongside a caption that read: "That's for you, Liverpool!"
The Reds skipper was lauded with praise in the comment section from fellow professionals and fans alike. One name that stood out was Bellingham's, with the Real Madrid superstar writing: "What a player". The comment raised a few eyebrows, given the England international was at one time heavily linked with a move to Liverpool before opting for the bright lights of the Santiago Bernabeu.
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Bellingham's sentiment was echoed by Van Dijk's team-mate Andy Robertson, who dished out the same compliment in the direction of his captain. The Netherlands international was certainly worthy of all the rave reviews, especially considering Van Dijk was surrounded by plenty of inexperienced academy graduates.
Not once did Liverpool sacrifice their usual tactics, which meant there were several occasions where Van Dijk and his central defensive partner Ibrahima Konate were outnumbered by Chelsea's attackers. And yet, not once did the Blues get the better of them.
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During his post-match media duties conducted on the pitch, Van Dijk explained that he felt another one of his Liverpool colleagues should have been handed the man of the match gong instead of him. The defender was talking about back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who according to the Dutchman is "world-class".
"He should have got it. I’m probably one of his biggest fans, I think," Van Dijk explained while standing next to Kelleher. I have always said he is world class and he stepped up today, again. It’s good to see. He’s a good boy, good goalkeeper and that’s what we need at a club like Liverpool."
For all of the joy of the Carabao Cup triumph, the Reds are fighting on three other fronts and attention will swiftly turn to Wednesday night's FA Cup fifth-round clash against Southampton at Anfield.
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